Footwear



April s, 1969 M. sAcHs 3,436,846

FOOTWEAR Filed Aug. 12, 1968 April 8, 1969. M, SACHS 3,436,846

FOOTWEAR Filed Aug. 12, 196s sheet 9 of 2 Imeaaoad.. Mawe; @encas Int. Cl. A431) 9/ 00, 23/218; .443e 13/00 US. Cl. 36-2.5 29 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLUSURE Footwear is disclosed that has a socket in the heel area and a heel section detachably attached to the socket and including an upper part.

My invention pertains to footwear and to parts thereof, including sole and upper sections, and means for imparting variability so as to afford improvements in fit and appearance as well as to provide convenience and adaptability in use. The present application is a continuationin-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 600,872, tiled Dec. l2, 1966, now abandoned.

Application Ser. No. 600,872 was based on the following earlier applications: Ser. No. 562,051, tiled June 13, 1966, and Ser. No. 562,056, filed June 13, 1966. Ser. No. 562,051 was based on the following earlier applications: Ser. No. 417,868, filed Dec. ll, 1964; Ser. No. 414,159,

tiled Nov. 27, 196,4; Ser. No. 284,288, tiled May 24, 1963;

Ser. No. 37,907, led June 22, 1960; Ser. No. 755,156, filed Aug. 15, 1958; and Ser. No. 679,887, tiled Aug. 23, 1957. Ser. No. 562,056, tiled June 13, 1966, was based on the following earlier applications: Ser. No. 399,269, tiled Sept. 25, 1964; Ser. No. 306,416, led Aug. 30, 1963; and Ser. No. 129,891, tiled Aug. 7, 1961.

In accordance with the invention, the general objectives are obtained by providing an article of footwear in which upper sections are detachably attached to sole sections and means are employed to maintain said upper sections in desired attached positions and to release them from said positions as desired. Slidable attachments, resilient sections, and movable sections as well as other features are employed.

The features of my invention apply to footwear of every type.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a top plan View of a shoe in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a shoe in accordance with another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion of a shoe in accordance with my invention,

FIG. 5 is a section taken approximately along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a similar section,

FIG. 7 is a similar section,

FIG. 8 is a similar section,

FIG. 9 is a section of a rear part of a sole in accordance with my invention,

FIG. 10 is a similar section,

FIG. 1l is a similar section,

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear part 3,43,846 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 fue.,

of a sole with a slidable layer in accordance with my invention,

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the Slidable layer of FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear part of a sole in accordance with my invention,

FIG. l5 is a lengthwise section illustrating another etnbodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of the rear part of a shoe in accordance with my invention.

The shoe illustrated by FIG. l consists of a generally indicated sole 20 to which a vamp 21 is attached and a generally indicated heel section 22 is detachably attached. The socket 23 depressed in the sole 20 opens rearwardly and the socket 24 opens forwardly, thus opening in opposite directions. The heel upper section 25 is attached to section 26, which rests on the sole 20. Stud 27 in the heel area of the section 26 and stud 29 in the shank area of the section 26 connect section 26 to sockets 21 and 23 respectively. The openings in opposite directions together with the elastic area 33 provide means for attaching and detaching conveniently and maintaining the attachment while providing slidability and holding the heel section in the socket.

FIG. 2 shows a shoe similar to the shoe of FIG. l, but with the sockets 35 and 36 facing toward each other. The material 37 attached to the upper 38 and resting on the sole 39 is detachably attached by studs 40 and 41 to the sockets 35 and 36 respectively in the sole 39 and is bendable in an upward direction to allow it to be slipped out of the sockets. The material 37 should preferably combine firmness with flexibility and preferably a significant amount of resilience, with a tendency to straighten out to the level of the sole. The section between the sockets can be contractable, as in the section 109 of FIG. 16 in a similar situation to be described later.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view and FIG. 5 is a section, approximately along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4, of the rear part of a shoe, showing a rear section of sole layel` 42 and a heel upper section generally indicated at 43 with upper section 44 and material 45 connected to upper material 44 and resting on sole layer 42 and attached thereto by stud 47 in socket 48. The upper layer 49 of material 45 is shown in FIG. 5 to be ybent up to display a downward protrusion or bar 50 designed for positioning an aperture or channel 51 in sole layer 42 adjacent to the front edge 52 of lower layer 53 of material 45, in which position, in conjunction with the rm bentup section 54 of layer 49, it will serve to oppose the sliding of stud 47 and of socket 48. The bar 50 is shown as being made of resilient material such as polyurethane foam for snug t, but nonresilient material may be used.

In FIG. 6 a heel section 55 is detachably attached by stud 56 to socket 57 depressed in sole layer 58, with a layer of material 59 attachable to upper portion 60 of the heel section and resting on sole layer 58 in the heel area extending forwardly to butt up against the rear edge of top sole layer 61 at juncture point 62. Both the front edge of the layer 59 and the sole layer 61 are shown to be of resiliently compressible material, 59A and 61A, respectively. As shown, either or both edges can be made resiliently contractible, but they need not be. The dotted line position of the layer 59 in FIG. 6 indicates how that layer can lbe bent up, even though it has a substantial degree of firmness, to permit the heel section to slide 3 forward and the attaching stud 56 to slide out of the socket 57.

FIG. 7 shows a sliding har 6A; which may slide out of the way of the bottom material 65 of heel section 66. Here also the bar 6d may be resilient as shown or may be non-resilient.

FIG. 8 shows a sole layer 67 pivoting or binding upward at 158 and having a bar 69 attached to its underside for positioning in channel 7@ to oppose the forward sliding of heel section 71. The upward-pitched portion 72 of layer 67 is firm enough to oppose the forward sliding of heel section 71 and the sliding of stud '73 out of socket 74 apart from the bar 69.

HG. 9 shows a socket 7S depressed in sole layer 76 and including a slidable block 77 positioned adjacent to stud 78. Top sole layer 79 is shown bent up with block S69 attached to the underside for positioning in socket 75 to maintain slidable block 77 adjacent to stud '7S so as to prevent stud 78 from sliding out of socket S5. When block 77 is slid forward to the position indicated in dotted lines, it leaves open space enough for the stud to slide out of socket 75. The blocks are shown as resilient but may be non-resilient.

FG. 10 shows a resiliently compressible block 82 in socket S3 opposing stud $4 from sliding out of socket 83. When the block $2 is suiiiciently compressible, stud 84 can slide over it into or out of the socket.

FIG. 11 shows a resilient block 85 in the socket 86 between stud i7 and closed end S3 thus affording a rear cushioning effect for comfort when the foot presses against the rear upper part of a heel section. lt also is a way f providing adjustability in lit.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a layer of material S9 having an elongated narrow slot 911 closed at the rear and open at the front for sliding between the sole layer generally indicated at 91 and the bottom 92. of a heel upper section, the sides of the slot 9th being adjacent to the narrow neck of the stud 93. The sliding layer of material is designed for slipping into position after the heel upper section is detachably attached to the socket 94. it serves to provide a snugness that opposes wobbling or rocking.

FIG. 14 shows two studs 95 and 96 in socket 97. The effect is similar to that of two separate sockets with a stud in each, insofar as pertains to the opposing of the sideways turning of the heel upper section to which the studs are attached. A plurality of studs or sockets can also be used in other of the examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. l shows the Afirm bottom layer 98 of the heel section 99 extending forwardly and bending upward from a -pivot point at the front edge 100 of the heel section 101 of upper 99. The layer 98 is shown to have a downwardly projecting part 192 attached to the underside for positioning in the aperture 103 in sole layer 104. At 105 a magnetic material is shown attached to the layer 9S, and at 1116 a magnetic or complementary material is shown attached to sole layer 194, the two serving to hold down layer 9S with bar 1112.

FIG. 16 shows a top plan view of a sole, generally indicated at 1117 with a raised sole layer section 1118 having a rear edge 109. At 110 is generally indicated a heel section having an upper section 111 land a .section of bottorn material 112 attached to upper section 111 and to the sole by stud 113 in socket 114iin the heel area and resting on sole 107. The section 112 is shown extending forward in the form of a sleeve 115 enclosing a narrower tongue of material 116 which widens into a wide section 117 which butts up against the rear edge 109 of raised sole layer section 108. At each side of the sleeve 115 is elastic materials 118 and 119 butting up against the shoulders 120 and 121, respectively, of the wider section 117. The elastic lmaterial can be stretched to allow the sleeve 115 to slide over section 117 or conversely, to allow section 117 to slide into sleeve 116, thus, permitting the bottom section of heel 112 to be contracted so as to permit stud 113 to slide out of socket 114.

From the foregoing it will be seen that footwear in accordance with the invention will be improved in variability, functioning, comfort, and adaptability as well as other features.

I claim:

1. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward entrance opening and a forward closed end in said heel area, a socket depressed in said sole forwardly of said heel area socket and rearwardly of the ball, said forward socket having a slot with a forward entrance opening and a rearward closed end, and a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said section of material having an attaching part detachably attached to said heel area socket and said section of material extending forwardly and being detachably attached to said forward socket, the sides of said rearward slot extending rearward from said closed end in a sufficiently close and parallel relationship to each other to slide in a lengthwise direction in said slot while still attached to said socket, said material including an elastic section between said forward and rearward attachments to said sockets.

2. The article of claim 1 in which said forward socket is entirely in the shank area.

3. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attac-hed thereto forwardly of the -heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in the shank area, said socket having a slot with a forward entrance opening in said shank area and a rearward closed end in said shank area, and a socket depressed in said hole rearwardly of said forward shank socket, said rearward socket having a slot with a rearward entrance opening and a forward closed end, and a footwear section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and extending between said sockets, said section having an attaching part detachably attached to said forward socket and having a part detachably attached to said rearward socket and said section including an elastic portion in the area between said attachments, the sides of said rearward slot extending rearward from said closed end in a sufciently close and parallel relationship to each other to enable said rearward attaching part to slide in said slot while still attached to said socket.

4. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance opening in said heel area, a socket depressed in said sole forwardly of said rearward heel area socket, said forward socket having a slot with a forward closed end and a rearward entrance opening, and a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and extending between said sockets and having an attaching part detachably attached to said rearward socket and an attaching part detachably attached to said forward socket, said section of material being bendable in an upward direction in an area between said attachments, the sides of at least one of said slots extending in a lengthwise direction in a sufficiently close and parallel relationship to each other to enable the one of said attaching parts which is attached thereto to slide in said slot while still attached to said socket.

5. The article of claim 4 in which said section extending between said attachments to said sockets includes a resilient section.

6. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance opening in said heel area, a socket depressed in said sole forwardly of said rearward heel area socket,

said forward socket having a slot with a forward closed end and a rearward entrance opening, and a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and extending between said sockets and being detachably attached to each of said sockets, said section -of material including a contractible section.

7. An article of `footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance opening in said heel area, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said heel section being detachably attached to said socket, a part attached to said heel section, a portion of material connected with said sole and positioned in front of said part, said portion opposing forward movement of said part and sliding of said heel section out of its position of attachment to said socket, said portion being movable from its opposing position.

8. The article of claim 7 in which said opposing portion includes a part recessed in said sole.

9. The article of claim 8 in which said recessed part is slidable away from the recessed position.

10. The article of claim 7 in which said opposing portion also opposes the sideways turning of said heel section.

11. The article of claim '7 in which said opposing portion is liftable from its opposing position.

12. The article of claim 7 in which said opposing portion includes a contractible section.

13. The article of claim 7 in which said opposing portion includes a section that is resiliently compressi'ble.

14. The article of claim 7 in which said section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area extends forwardly and is the part opposed and is liftable away from the opposed position.

15. The article of claim 14 in which said opposed part is resilient.

16. The article of claim 14 in which said opposed part is contractible.

17. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance opening in said heel area, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of [material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said heel section being detachably attached to said socket, and a resilient section of material positioned in r said socket between the rearward end of said socket and the attaching part of said heel section.

1S. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said section of material being detachably attached to said socket, the attaching part including a narroW neck and a lower wider part maintaining said attaching prt in said socket, and a slidable layer of material positioned in said heel area between said section of material and said sole, said slidable layer of material having a narrow lengthwise slot, said slot being closed rearwardly and open forwardly, the sides of said slot extending on each side of said narrow neck of said attaching part.

19. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance opening in said heel area, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said heel section being detachably attached to said socket, and a sole layer attached to said sol-e forwardly of said heel section and extending rearwardly, the rear part of said sole layer opposing the forward sliding of said heel section out of the position of attachment to said socket, said rear part being bendable in an upward direction from a point forwardly of said heel section.

20. The article of claim 19 in which said sole has an aperture underlying said sole layer, and a downward protrusion extending from the underside of said sole layer for positioning in said aperture.

21. An article of Ifootwear includnng a sole with a section of uper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance opening in said heel area, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said hole in said heel area, said heel section being detachably attached to said socket, said hole having an aperture forwardly of said heel section, said section of material extending forwardly, a downwardly projecting part extending from the underside of said material and positioned in said aperture in said sole, said part in conjunction with said section of material opposing the forward sliding of said heel section, and said part being removable from said aperture.

22. The article of claim 7 in which the forward sliding opposed is the sliding necessary to release said heel section from its attachment to said socket.

23. The article of claim 7 in which said section of material opposing forward sliding of said heel section resiliently opposed said forward sliding.

24. The article of claim 7 in which said section of material opposing forward sliding of said heel section resiliently opposed removal from its opposing position.

25. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upp-er attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket being closed at the rear and having an entrance forwardly of said closed rear, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said heel section having a part detachably attached to said socket, and a section of material connected with said sole and opposing the removal of said detachably attached part from said socket, said opposing section of material being removable from its opposing position.

26. The article of claim 25 in which said opposing section of material resiliently opposes its removal from its opposing position.

27. The article of claim 21 in which the forward sliding opposed is the sliding necessary to release said heel section from said socket.

28. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, a heel section including a s-ection of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said section of material being detachably attached to said socket, the attaching part including a narrow neck and a lower wider part maintaining said attaching part in said socket, and a slidable layer of material positioned in said heel area between said section of material and said sole, said slidable layer of material having a narrow slot, said slot being closed at one end and open at the other, the sides of said slot extending on opposite sides of said narrow neck of said attaching part.

29. An article of footwear including a sole with a section of upper attached thereto forwardly of the heel area, a socket depressed in said sole in said heel area, said socket having a slot with a rearward closed end and a forward entrance, a heel section including a section of upper and a section of material attached to said upper and resting on said sole in said heel area, said heel section having a part detachably attached to said socket, and a 7 8 removable section of :material positioned in said socket 2,844,891 7/1958 Meltzer. between the rearward end of said socket and said at- 2,897,612 8/1959 MeLtZer 36-58.5 taching part of said heel section.

FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1961 Great Britain.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XR.

Reerences Cited 870,875

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,907,997 5/1933 Nickerson 36-44 X 2,207,306 7/1940 Tagler. 36-58.5 

